By MIKE GIBSONnewsroom@roanecounty.com
People often compare so-called “people years” to dog years; but they rarely draw a comparison between the age of people and the age of public buildings.
If they did, Kingston City Hall would certainly qualify as one of the frail elderly, despite the fact that its 48 years would constitute the hardy prime of middle age in human terms.

A mother who claims her son was subjected to repeated bullying and name calling at Walnut Hill Elementary School has filed a $5-million lawsuit against Roane County.
Former Walnut Hill principal Kevin Ayers, Director of Schools Toni McGriff, all 10 members of the Board of Education and County Executive Ron Woody are named as defendants.
“This is a case that needs to be brought to the public’s attention,” Kingston attorney Gary McDonald said.

Proponents of a proposed pain management facility called Roane County Interventional Pain Management say the facility would not be like the pain pill mills that are often in the news.
Instead, while prescription pain relief may be used at times, other methods — including physical therapy and interventional pain management procedures — also would be used.

By MIKE GIBSONnewsroom@roanecounty.com
Kingston City Council passed by a six-to-one vote on first reading an ordinance regulating the use of so-called “jake brakes” — the Jacobs engine compression braking systems, usually employed on large trucks — within city limits.
The law would enable local police to stop truckers and make sure that they were in compliance with federal laws for the brakes.
The police would not have such powers on the interstate.

by MIKE GIBSONnewsroom@roanecounty.com
Kingston City Council members took measures to ensure a spate of proposed new pain management clinics won’t cause headaches for the city.

The council unanimously passed a resolution imposing a moratorium on the permitting or approval of any new pain management clinics with the city limits for the next 120 days. The city has no such businesses in operation, but council members worry that some might look for space to nest in Kingston, since nearby Knoxville has chased out several clinics through systematic police action.

Michael Golebiewski, associate professor of speech and theater at at Roane State Community College, has been directing his Playmakers for more than 12 seasons.
He’s also showing his writing chops by bringing the dead back to the stage in a “rock odyssey from the great beyond.”

Deadstock, which premiered this past weekend, marks the first full-length play he has written.

It was a joint project between the theater, art and music departments.